The UFC’s return to Japan proved to be a successful and monumental event.Once the premiere destination for mixed martial arts events, Japan represented a homecoming of sorts to the spiritual motherland of martial arts and MMA.The contests did not disap…
The UFC’s return to Japan proved to be a successful and monumental event.
Once the premiere destination for mixed martial arts events, Japan represented a homecoming of sorts to the spiritual motherland of martial arts and MMA.
The contests did not disappoint as a variety of martial arts techniques were on display.
There were wrestling slams, judo throws, jiu-jitsu submission grappling, muay thai strikes, boxing punches, and just about every bit of imagination and ingenuity you could hope to fit in between.
The live Japanese crowd and audiences tuning in worldwide were treated to a spectrum of the wonderful world of mixed martial arts in a memorable event.
Just over a year ago, Benson Henderson was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision that saw Anthony Pettis crowned as WEC lightweight champion, having fans singing his praises and leaving Henderson to begin his climb back to a title shot.And at UFC 1…
Just over a year ago, Benson Henderson was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision that saw Anthony Pettis crowned as WEC lightweight champion, having fans singing his praises and leaving Henderson to begin his climb back to a title shot.
And at UFC 144, Henderson had reclaimed his position at the top of the 155-pound division, defeating Frankie Edgar in a classic five-round bout to become UFC lightweight champion.
Henderson was very dependent on utilizing his superior size and strength on Edgar, out-striking his opponent at certain points and landing the more damaging shots. Near the end of the second round, Henderson landed a devastating up-kick that floored the champion and was nearly finished before the bell sounded.
At the end of the bout, fans were undecided as to who won, as either competitor had a legitimate case to be declared the winner. But in the end, Henderson stood alone as the best 155-pound fighter on the planet.
Henderson now finds himself as public enemy in a talent-rich pool of contenders, but he is determined and willing to face all challengers.
Blessed with freakish athleticism and charisma, Henderson has all the tools to remain champion for a while. Since his loss to Pettis, the 28-year-old has obliterated the competition. He has now defeated three of the division’s top contenders in impressive fashion and he appears to be only getting better with each fight.
Displaying such a tenacious and reckless style, Henderson also poses such a calm demeanor in the fight, showing a mental toughness that is seemingly unbreakable.
Now, with the lightweight title firmly around his waist, Henderson will begin his reign as champion and prepare to put together a string of title defenses reminiscent of his tenure in the WEC. And if history tells us anything, Henderson might hold onto that title for the foreseeable future.
If you’re only going to do one thing, make sure you do it well. (Photo: Getty Images/UFC.com)
It would be an understatement to call the UFC’s return to Japan triumphant. We could point to the bevy of exciting finishes as proof enough, but last night’s action seemed to go beyond that. More important to the evening’s success was the way the competitors fought. Surrounded by fans that appreciate the “bushido spirit” above all else, the fighters let it all hang out and battled their way through adversity. The Japanese prefer an entertaining performance over a cautious victory, and from the opening bout to the final bell of the evening, they got their money’s worth.
The final four combatants weren’t able to match the undercard’s highlight-reel stoppages, but the fighters knew the stakes and, to the best of their abilities, showed up to wow the fans.
If you’re only going to do one thing, make sure you do it well. (Photo: Getty Images/UFC.com)
It would be an understatement to call the UFC’s return to Japan triumphant. We could point to the bevy of exciting finishes as proof enough, but last night’s action seemed to go beyond that. More important to the evening’s success was the way the competitors fought. Surrounded by fans that appreciate the “bushido spirit” above all else, the fighters let it all hang out and battled their way through adversity. The Japanese prefer an entertaining performance over a cautious victory, and from the opening bout to the final bell of the evening, they got their money’s worth.
The final four combatants weren’t able to match the undercard’s highlight-reel stoppages, but the fighters knew the stakes and, to the best of their abilities, showed up to wow the fans.
Quinton Jackson’s hopes to turn back the clock and revive his fan-focused style in Japan faded as quickly as his PRIDE walkout song. Just minutes into his bout with Ryan Bader, as he was pressed against the cage, it was clear that he was battling an opponent whose wrestling prowess promised to stifle whatever energy he’d hoped to bring to Saitama Super Arena. What’s worse, he must have known that there was little he could do about it. Overweight and under-trained, this was the worst Rampage we’ve seen to date. As the second round kicked off he looked slow, sluggish, and outgunned. And that’s when it happened. As Bader delivered a knee toward his head, Rampage caught the leg and scooped him up for a brutal slam. No, it wasn’t as high nor as swift as we’ve seen in the past, but for a man desperately hoping to thrill his fans it was an important moment, and moments like that are hard to come by. Bader was wobbled, but while the effects of the [pretty much illegal] slam were fleeting, Rampage had delivered what was unquestionably the most memorable action in the bout.
Unfortunately for the former Light Heavyweight Champion, that highlight would be his first and last. Bader quickly regained his composure and with it control of the fight. It was a dominant performance that scored him an obvious unanimous decision. Rampage cites a knee injury in training as the reason for his lack of preparation, and while his love of fighting has certainly waned in recent years I’m inclined to believe him. His assertion that he looked better than ever prior to the injury, probably not. At the end of the day, it was a very disappointing performance from Rampage and a notable victory for Bader. The former TUF’er notched a big win against a legend of the sport, and he did so on an important stage.
Before we begin quarreling about the outcome of the main event, let’s all do ourselves a favor and go watch the fight again. Not to see who scored more takedowns in round two, not to count who landed more significant strikes in round four, but to enjoy a damn good fight. In the latest installment of back-and-forth Lightweight title fights, Frankie Edgar showed the heart and determination that earned him the belt in the first place. Those disappointed that he didn’t survive a near-death experience in round 1 got their wish as the second frame wound down. A perfectly placed up-kick dropped the champion, opening his nose like a spigot. But it wouldn’t be a Frankie Edgar fight if he didn’t prove his mettle, and “The Answer” proved once again that he doesn’t have an ‘off switch’, only a ‘reset button’. The champ battled back and looked no worse for wear in rounds 3-5 (aside from his battered face, of course), but at the end of the fight the scorecards didn’t add up in his favor.
For those of you upset at the decision, of whom there are undoubtedly many, take comfort in the fact that Benson Henderson fought like a champion last night. While you may not agree with the judges’ tally, there can’t be any disappointment in having a champion that performs like he does. Henderson exhibited powerful, dynamic striking from the opening bell and he never stopped moving forward. He brought the fight to Frankie standing up and on the ground and was fighting for the finish; it’s not his fault that Edgar can’t be put away. Both men fought beyond expectations and together they earned the $65k “Fight of the Night” bonus.
Edgar’s reign was hallmarked by closely contested battles and instant rematches, and that streak shouldn’t end now. You can argue who won but you can’t argue that it was close, and if anyone deserves a chance to win back his belt it’s Edgar. Dana seems to be leaning toward a different rematch for Henderson in the form of Anthony Pettis. That bout too has an interesting storyline and would yield a night full of fireworks. Either way, the fans will be treated to a blockbuster fight between two competitors that go for broke. If the Japanese fans taught us anything last night, it’s that there’s little else we could ask for.
Well there you have it. Benson Henderson took the UFC lightweight belt from Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 in Japan in what could be seen as a controversial decision.Throughout the fight, Henderson landed a lot of devastating strikes that ended up breaking E…
Well there you have it. Benson Henderson took the UFC lightweight belt from Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 in Japan in what could be seen as a controversial decision.
Throughout the fight, Henderson landed a lot of devastating strikes that ended up breaking Edgar’s nose and cause his eye to swell shut. On top of that Henderson and Edgar nearly split the amount of successful takedowns.
Now, the case for Edgar is that he landed plenty more shots than Henderson throughout the fight.
So how do you judge this fight? Do you judge based on damage or strikes landed?
Henderson was very aggressive and was able to control the center of the Octagon, so the judges did it get it right. If the fight would have went in Edgar’s favor, though, it wouldn’t have been a big deal in my eyes.
Regardless of how the fight went, I felt the respective fighter deserved the victory.
On my scorecard I had Edgar and Henderson split through the first four rounds and Henderson securing the fifth and final round to take home the belt.
It was a tough fight to score and could be as tough as Carlos Condit versus Nick Diaz (and slightly less controversial).
It was a good fight and regardless of the outcome, both fighters showed a lot. Edgar yet again showed tremendous heart and Henderson showed how truly talented he is.
At 1:22 a.m. Sunday on the East Coast, Benson Henderson became the new UFC lightweight champion with a close but clear decision victory over Frankie Edgar at UFC 144. Henderson (16-2) overpowered Edgar (14-2-1) over five frenetic and hotly co…
At 1:22 a.m. Sunday on the East Coast, Benson Henderson became the new UFC lightweight champion with a close but clear decision victory over Frankie Edgar at UFC 144.
Henderson (16-2) overpowered Edgar (14-2-1) over five frenetic and hotly contested rounds, shaking off takedown attempts and opportunistically punishing Edgar at every opening. The pivotal moment was an absolutely brutal upkick from Henderson at the very end of the second round, which appeared to break Edgar’s nose.
For his part, the indomitable Edgar battled throughout and probably out-struck Henderson by volume. But Henderson simply did more—a good deal more—with his chances.
Here are some key takeaways.
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
Henderson’s physical advantage.
“I wanted to use my size to my advantage,” Henderson told UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan after the fight. “Making weight kind of sucks for me…I pay a big price for that so I want to make sure my opponents feel that pain when we’re inside this Octagon.”
Moments before that interview, the microphones picked up another, more private exchange. As everyone awaited the decision, Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta went over and whispered something to Henderson. His words were not audible, but Henderson’s were: “I could fight again right now.”
Just about every clean strike Henderson landed seemed to damage Edgar. His bulk allowed him to shrug off a lot Edgar’s wrestling (not all of it, but a lot of it). Benson Henderson was the bigger, better athlete Saturday night, plain and simple.
What We Learned About Frankie Edgar
That he’s going to answer a lot of questions over the next few months about moving down to featherweight.
“I don’t know, man,” Edgar told Rogan. “We’ll see what happens. It’s too soon to make a decision.”
So we’ll see. He may not go down right away, but I’d guess it’s not a matter of “if.”
What We Learned About Benson Henderson
He’s got a lot of tools in the toolbox. Big power, strong grappling, strong takedown defense, endless confidence and a gas tank that matched Edgar’s, at least Saturday night. We’ll see how the first challenger does.
What’s Next for Edgar?
He may not have the belt anymore, but here’s guessing he stays at lightweight for the time being. After fully emerging from the two years he just spent tied up with only two guys, he finds himself facing an open field in the UFC’s deep lightweight division. I imagine that’s an exciting prospect for Edgar.
The winner or loser between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller comes to mind. Edgar and Diaz have never crossed paths. Edgar and Miller battled once before, with Edgar taking a unanimous decision. But that was all the way back in 2006, before either man had entered the UFC.
However, Miller-Diaz doesn’t happen until May 5, which would mean a long stay on the shelf. If Edgar wants to fight before Labor Day, how about Joe Lauzon?
What’s next for Henderson?
One name: Anthony Pettis. Pettis, the former WEC champ, likely took Knockout of the Night honors for his first-round finish of Lauzon. “Showtime” seems eager to wear gold again, and Henderson surely would jump at the chance to avenge his only loss in his last 15 fights.
And there’s a bit of extra intrigue farther down the road. Former Bellator champ and highly regarded 155er Eddie Alvarez may soon be moving to the UFC. He may need to win a fight or two in the Octagon before getting a title shot, but he would be right in the mix from the moment he signed. Especially if he can win the last fight on his Bellator contract, which comes in April against some guy named Shinya Aoki.
UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will face touted contender Benson Henderson at UFC 144, looking to make his fourth consecutive title defense.Some believe that Henderson will be Edgar’s sternest test to date, which is a great compliment, given th…
UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will face touted contender Benson Henderson at UFC 144, looking to make his fourth consecutive title defense.
Some believe that Henderson will be Edgar’s sternest test to date, which is a great compliment, given that Edgar’s previous two opponents were BJ Penn and Gray Maynard. Both Penn and Maynard were considered top 10 pound-for-pound fighters when Edgar beat them.
It is debatable whether or not Henderson will be Edgar’s toughest test, but most would agree that he has the best style to get the job done. He is a much larger lightweight than the champion, with a strong wrestling base, diverse striking and surprising durability.
There’s no denying it—Henderson has the tools to win this fight. But, will he win it?
I don’t see it happening.
For the most part, Edgar has already dealt with better versions of what Henderson brings to the table.
The champ has bested Gray Maynard, who is a more decorated wrestler than Henderson, and he has also bested BJ Penn (twice), who is a more effective striker than Henderson.
Henderson does have a more well-rounded striking game than Edgar is used to dealing with, and is known for his kicking attacks. However, I believe that Henderson will have more to adjust to than Edgar.
Edgar has not dealt with someone who uses their kicks as effectively as Henderson, granted, but Henderson has never fought anyone as fast as Edgar, or with the boxing and cardio of Edgar.
Expect to see Edgar use his speed and footwork to pop in and out of Henderson’s range throughout the night, peppering him with quick combos. Henderson will look to neutralize Edgar’s speed with kicks, but the champ will use those kicks to bring the fight to the ground.
History has shown that Henderson is a tough man to finish, and Edgar, who is not particularly known for his finishing ability, will not likely be able to do it.
That said, the champ will walk away from UFC 144 with a decisive decision victory.
Andrew Barr is a Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. For updates on what’s happening in the world of MMA, follow him on Twitter @AndrewBarr8
Well there you have it. Benson Henderson took the UFC lightweight belt from 